Sewing-machine.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

G, E. GILBERT.

' SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.1.1,1907

TTNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

GEORGE E. GILBERT, OF HAVERI-IILTJ, MASSAOI-IUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO AIME J. LA ROSE, OF HAVERHILL, MASSAOHUSETT S.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed February 11, 1907- Serial No. 356,663.

ToaZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GILBERT, of Haverhill, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention particularly relates to certain .improvements in stitch-setting and pulling-off devices for shoe-sewing machines, and has for its object to provide a take-up mechanism which shallbe arranged closely adjacent the needle mechanism, so that the stitch may be tightly set without placing undue strain upon the thread and which shall be so combined with the feed mechanism that a single operating means may actuate both mechanisms, thus materially reducing the number of operating parts in the machine, which might otherwise be necessary. I carry out these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe-sewing machine provided withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of certain parts, showing them in a different position from that of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of certain parts embodying my invention.

The general form of the machine illustrated is of the chain-stitch variety of the general character shown in the United States Patent to Kiefi'er, No. 696,872, so that the general construction and operation will be understood by those skilled in the art without especial detailed description and illustration.

As shown in the drawings, the main frame 1 is provided with the usual cam-shaft 2, on which the usual series of operating-cams are provided. The needle mechanism comprises the needle 3, mounted on the arm 4, said arm being oscillated about the shaft 5 by means of the lever 6, operating through the link 7 and operated by the cam 6. The looper 8, channel-guide 9, back-rest 10, and presser-foot 11 are all devices well-known in the art and detailed description thereof is unnecessary. The feed mechanism is also similar to that ordinarily employed and comprises the feed-awl 12, which is oppositely disposed to the needle and mounted on a lever 12, pivoted to the slide 13 by pivot I 13, said awl being adapted to swing toward and from the work in the usual manis raised by the cam 15 the awl will be advanced toward the work and when it is lowered the awl will be retracted. The feed-slide 13 is reciprocated by the lever 18,

which engages a cam-groove 18 in the cam 15 to move the feed-awl laterally. The tension-wheel 20 is arranged at the back side of the machine, and the thread 20 leads forwardly therefrom over a threadguide 21 to the front of the machine adjacent the. needle, where it passes beneath and partly about a thread-guide 26, mounted on an arm 27, normally held stationarily by spring 28 against stop 29, said spring only yielding to prevent breakage of the thread. The parts thus far described are all old in the art and form no part of my invention.

In carrying out my invention I provide the depending awl-operating arm 16 with a longitudinal slot 16, in which a thread-engaging device or sheave 30 is adjustably mount-' ed, so that the thread as it is passed beneath the guide 26 may be passed obliquely upward away from the needle, ab out the sheave 30, then forwardly and downwardly over the guide 31, hence downwardly to the looper 8 and to the needle.

The operation of-my device is as follows: Assuming that a stitch has been taken and that the needle has been retracted to the po sition of Fig. 2, in which position it is holding a loop which it has just drawn through the work, the needle is advanced until its point enters the work, at which point the awl-operating lever-arm 16 begins to swing rear-- wardly to retract the awl from the work. As said arm 16 moves rearwardly the sheave 30 thereon is also carried rearwardly and acts to take up or pull back the thread, so that soon arm 16 will cause suflicient thread to be pulled off from the tension-wheel for the neXt stitch. When the needle has been completely advanced through the Work, the looper lays the thread in the needle-bar b and the needle is then retracted, drawing the loop back through the work. When the cam 6 begins to retract the needle, the cam begins to swing the arm 16 forwardly to advance the Mid, and thus immediately begins to give off 1 thread to the needle. The feed-awl is at the same time advanced into engagement with the Work, sufficient thread. being given off by lever 16 to permit the needle to draw back the loop to its rearmost position.

The amount of thread to be pulled off the l w1th the thread-engaging device or sheave l l and by passing the thread thereabout in the manner described said lever 16 is made to perform the double function of a thread-pulling device and a feed-operating device and that I am thereby enabled to omit the special thread-pulling devices ordinarily employed, thus materially reducing the number of parts of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A shoe-sewing machine of the character described comprising a tension device, a needle and operating means therefor, a feeding I device and an operating-lever for moving said device to and from the work, a threadengaging device on said lever, a relatively stationary thread-guide between said engaging device and. the needle, disposed to permit the thread from the tension device to be passed about it and thence about said. threadengaging device to the needle, and means for moving said lever to carry said thread-engaging device away from said guide, as the needle is advanced to take up thread and to pull off thread from said tension device, and, by the same movement, to retract the feeding device from the work, and, upon opposite movement of said lever, to give off thread to the needle as it is retracted, and to advance the feeding device to the work, substantially as described.

2. A shoe-sewing machine of the character described comprising a tension device, a needle and operating means therefor, a feeding device and an operating-lever for moving said device to and from the work, a threadsheave mounted on said lever and adjustable longitudinally thereof, a relatively stationary thread-guide between said sheave and the needle disposed to permit the thread from the tension device to be passed about it and thence about said sheave to the needle, and means for moving said lever to carry said. sheave away from said guide, as the needle is advanced, to take up threadand to pull off thread from said tension device, and, by the same movement, to retract the feeding device from the work, and, upon opposite move ment of said lever, to give off thread to the needle, as it is retracted, and to advance the feeding device to the work, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE E. GILBERT.

Witnesses:

L. H. HARRIMAN, H. B. DAVIS. 

